Eye on the Tigers: How solid is LSU safety commit Grant Delpit?

BRADENTON, Fla. — Much has changed within the LSU program since Grant Delpit committed in July.

For one, there’s a new head coach — at least on an interim basis — but for the most part, his commitment has remained solid.

Delpit, the 4-star safety commit, visited Baton Rouge for Ed Orgeron’s head coaching debut on Oct. 1 when LSU dropped Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 181-pound recruit is a fan of coach O’s style and energy he has injected into the team over the past month.

So, barring a completely unforeseen change, the nation’s 10th-ranked safety is a strong bet to be rocking purple and gold in a few short months.

“It’s been lights out,” Delpit told SEC Country. “There’s a lot of energy — on defense and the offense with those record-breaking games. The energy level is up. It’s top notch, 100 percent. I didn’t really see it in the early games like Wisconsin. It’s a different mindset.

“We’ll see what happens with the coaching situation and who they hire. Unless they clear the staff out or something like that, I’ll ride it out until the end.”

During Grant Delpit’s visit to LSU on Oct. 1, Ed Orgeron brought the 4-star commit to midfield during the pregame warmups. (photo by Sam Spiegelman/SEC Country)

Delpit has become an instant fan of coach O, which should come as no surprise given his record as the team’s interim coach.

The 4-star commit holds relationships with Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher and Houston’s Tom Herman, two known coaching candidates. Nonetheless, Delpit gave his endorsement for Orgeron and the current coaching staff.

“Coach O is a great coach,” he said. “He’s showing it right now. They’re 3-0, breaking records, and as long as he keeps this up, he’ll be on the path to greatness. Keeping him the coach would be a great thing.”

LSU defensive backs coach and Florida area recruiter Corey Raymond stopped by IMG Academy on Monday to check in with his prized safety pledge. He came with an agenda, too.

As long as Raymond remains on the Tigers’ staff, Delpit’s spot in the 2017 recruiting class will remain as is.

“He was just checking up on me,” Delpit explained. “It was the first time that he came here since I got here. It’s the bye week, so he came to see me to talk and try to get Dylan (Moses) back. It was stuff like that. He came down with coach (Dameyune) Craig to talk to us about sticking with LSU and stuff. I’m not going anywhere. Coach Corey (Raymond) is my dude. I’d loved to be coached by him at the next level.”

Of course, Delpit is teammates with 4-star LSU wide receiver commit Jhamon Ausbon and Moses, a 5-star outside linebacker who recently pledged to Alabama. Moses, like Delpit and Ausbon, originally hails from Louisiana.

Ausbon and Delpit are firmly entrenched in LSU’s class, but that hasn’t stopped the elite safety from sorting out his other options.

Delpit officially visited Notre Dame on Oct. 14 and plans on doing the same to Florida in December, just around the same time he makes his official visit to LSU. Behind LSU, Delpit named Florida as his No. 2 school and Notre Dame at No. 3 … just in case.

“It’s part of it,” he said, when asked if taking those visits are just a part of the recruiting process.

“I really do have interest in Notre Dame and Florida. They’re in my top 3.”

Raymond has busy Thursday, Friday night planned

After stopping by IMG Academy on Monday to see his prized safety commit, Raymond will remain in Florida and head down to Miami to check in 2018 defensive back pledge Nadab Joseph.

Joseph committed to LSU in June and has remained very solid after piling up several marquee offers over the summer and into the fall, including Florida State, Auburn and South Carolina.

Raymond will be on hand for Miami (Fla.) Edison High’s rivalry showdown against Booker T. Washington, which will be for a district championship.

After taking in Joseph’s game Thursday evening, Raymond will head to the Nashville area to check in on LSU’s other elite safety commit, JaCoby Stevens.

Stevens, a 5-star recruit and No. 2 safety in the 2017 haul, also remained firmly entrenched in LSU’s class. The off-week gives Raymond an opportunity to head out of state to check in on the All-World safety.